Osaka Prefectural Gym -- Osaka JapanThursday, December 14, 2000.

As part of SLAM! Wrestling's continued commitment to provide in-depth coverage of international wrestling, we are pleased to provide a preview of New Japan Pro Wrestling's second pay-per-view event, "2nd Judgement" from Osaka this Thursday. SLAM! Wrestling previewed New Japan's first pay-per-view back in July and the results were so positive that we've decided to do it again. The main event is an inter-promotional match as New Japan's Yuji Nagata & Takashi Iizuka take on the All Japan team of Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi. And in another special inter-promotional match, Jushin Liger captains a team of New Japan Junior heavyweights against an Osaka Pro Wrestling contingent, led by Super Delfin. And because this is a special event, we've
hooked up with our colleagues at Live Audio Wrestling, as Jeff Marek & Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski join SLAM's international wrestling expert John Molinaro with their full predictions for the card. We'll have a full report on the show Thursday.

ALL JAPAN VS NEW JAPAN

Yuji Nagata

Rising star of New JapanBest Moves: Northern Lights Suplex, figure-four.Major titles held: IWGP World TagWhat's 2000 been like?: Not quite a breakthrough year, but pretty close. He's found a solid spot in the semi-main events and should be elevated to the next level by this time next year.

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Takashi Iizuka

Under-rated midcarderBest Moves: Iizuka kickMajor titles held: IWGP World TagWhat's 2000 been like?: Best push he's received in years. A solid mid-carder who's been mixed in with the main eventers from time to time.

VS.

Toshiaki Kawada

The best in All JapanBest Moves: Jumping High Kick, Stretch PlumMajor titles held: Triple Crown title, All Japan World TagWhat's 2000 been like?: Turmoil with the split between All Japan and Misawa. He's been the glue that's held the promotion together.

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Masa Fuchi

Aging VeteranBest Moves: ChopsWhat's 2000 been like?: Best year he's had in a while. Went from lower-card comedy worker to main eventer and getting a bug push thanks to Misawa and company leaving.

What the experts say

John Molinaro: I'm looking forward for to this one as I want to see how Kawada and Nagata will work together. I think if they work the bulk of the match, this could be off the charts. If Fuchi stays in there for long periods of time, this match will die a slow death. Hard for me to imagine All Japan sending a team to this show just so they can put over a New Japan team when it's expected that Kawada will likely put over someone from New Japan next month in the tournament for the vacant IWGP Heavyweight title. Look for Fuchi and Kawada to go over.

Jeff Marek: Tough call. Again, Masa Fuchi on top of a major show (if you would have
told me a year ago that this was going to happen I would have laughed but it
just goes to show you never to say never in wrestling). I think for the AJ
vs NJ angle to continue they should put Kawada and Fuchi over. This should
steal the show especially when Nagata and Kawada are in there together.

Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski: To keep the All Japan
invasion angle strong, they have to have Kawada and Fuchi go over in this
match. They have to really show that All Japan is a threat to them. Besides,
New Japan will win the undercard matche against the Osaka Pro guys, so
they won't be completely shut-out. This has the potential to be a good match
as long as you keep Masa Fuchi out of the ring as much as possible. I'm very
curious to see how well Yugi Nagata and Kawada work together in the ring.

LEGEND VS THE UP-START

Tatsumi Fujinami

Career winding downBest Moves: Dragon Suplex, OctopusMajor titles held: IWGP World, IWGP World TagWhat's 2000 been like?: Taking up space on the roster. Biggest news was his part in the Hashimoto-retirement angle.

VS.

Koji Kanemoto

Best junior heavyweight in JapanBest Moves: Northern Lights Suplex, lethal stiff kicks, moonsaultMajor titles held: IWGP Jr Heavyweight, IWGP Jr Heavyweight TagWhat's 2000 been like?: Stuck in a holding pattern. With the decline of new Japan's junior heavyweight division, this was the first mediocre year Kanemoto has ever had.

What the experts say

John Molinaro: Why is New Japan placing Fujinami in the semi-main event? I'm absolutely dumbfounded. What's more is the fact that they'll likely have Kanemoto put him over. Fujinami is a major power broker in the New Japan front office which explains why he's still competing even though he's a shadow of his former self. This match will rest in the hands of Kanemoto. It'll be up to him if he wants to carry Fujinami to something decent.

Jeff Marek: I figure the thinking going into this one is that due to his age and health
there is only so much that Fujinami can do but they need the match to look
good so they'd better put him with one of the best workers in the company.
Kanemoto, when he's on his game, is the best in the world and should be
able to carry Fujinami to a good match with the end result being Fujinami
going over for the win.

Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski: This is a match that is being
included for its "elevating potential" of a young star rather than seeing a
good worked match in the ring. I would expect Kanemoto would get the nod
here because that is Fujinami's job at this point in his career to put over
younger talent, but I don't know how well the two will work together in the
ring. But if he beats Fujinami, he can move up into the upper echelon and
get out of the junior heavyweight division. Plus, Kanemoto just jobbed to Kendo Ka
Shin at a show on the weekend.